UPDATE - Turkey key country in Syria talks, says FM Cavusoglu

UPDATES WITH MORE QUOTES FROM CAVUSOGLU

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s foreign minister on Tuesday said the country is a key stakeholder on Syria-related matters in the Geneva, Astana, and Sochi talks, including the Manbij issue.

"Turkey is a prime mover in the Astana process, and currently Turkey is a prime mover in efforts on the ground, including Manbij," Mevlut Cavusoglu told news channel NTV.

"Turkey is a prime mover in ending conflicts, steps in confidence-building, and humanitarian aid. Turkey is the major key country in all matters related to Syria, including Syrians returning home," he added.

He also argued for the importance of the Manbij roadmap reached by Turkey and the U.S. for Syria's future.

"The YPG/PKK terrorists will be withdrawn from Manbij. They will be disarmed and the U.S. with Turkey will patrol the area. Manbij will not be under any threat and efforts in establishing stability in Manbij will begin afterwards," he said.

Cavusoglu drew attention to Syria's rich demographic structure and said: "Actually the Manbij model is important for the future of Syria... It is important for Syria's territorial integrity, border security and security once the political solution is established."

The roadmap was announced after a June 4 meeting in Washington between Cavusoglu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The deal focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the northern Syrian city of Manbij and on stability in the region.

Should the model prove a success, Turkey has said it will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.

- Delivery of F-35 jets

About the delivery of U.S. F-35 jets to Turkey -- which some U.S. officials have tried to throw doubt on -- Cavusoglu in another program in Antalya on Tuesday said: "It is a multi-dimensional, all inclusive project."

"We have done all of our parts, including the joint production, until now. We have made the necessary payments for the F-35 until now. We have fulfilled all of our responsibilities," he added.

He noted that Turkey has been invited for the first delivery of F-35 jets on June 21 and there will be "the delivery of two jets. Afterwards there will be a training process," he added.

Regarding a possible operation in northern Iraq's Mt. Qandil, a major hideout for PKK terrorists, Cavusoglu said Turkey and the U.S. had also established a working group on counter-terrorism.

He said the major threat posed by PKK is in Erbil, adding that eliminating terrorists from the region is not only important for the future of Iraq but also for the Kurds living in northern Iraq.

- 'FBI investigation on FETO'

On the extradition of Fetullah Gulen, leader of Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, Cavusoglu recalled that an official request to U.S. has been made.

He said the U.S. secretary of state told him the FBI had begun a comprehensive investigation on FETO and said: "Actually, our ambassador (in the U.S.) had also said the FBI began an investigation in about 20 states."

Cavusoglu also recalled the working group established with U.S. on FETO issue and announced that "there will be a comprehensive meeting at the latest by July in Ankara".

On relations with the EU, he said there are only six criterions left for Turkey to fulfill in order to get visa free travel for Turkish nationals. He also noted that once the process on visa free travel is over, he is to meet the First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans.